Post-World War II YearsPost-World War II Years

OverviewOverview

• Political Developments• Military Developments • The Berlin Airlift • Lessons Learned • Aviation Research and

Development

• Political Developments• Military Developments • The Berlin Airlift • Lessons Learned • Aviation Research and

Development

Political Developments Political Developments • Results of World War II

– U.S. is elevated to superpower– Concerned with world affairs

•Smaller nations can no longer afford to defend themselves

– U.S. now vulnerable to long range bombers and ICBMs

• Results of World War II– U.S. is elevated to superpower– Concerned with world affairs

•Smaller nations can no longer afford to defend themselves

– U.S. now vulnerable to long range bombers and ICBMs

Communism– Russia would not allow nations occupied at end of war to

determine their own form of government• East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary,

Bulgaria, Rumania, Yugoslavia, Albania, North Korea, Northern China

• Chinese civil war, French Indochina– U.S. military aid to Turkey, Greece– Marshall Plan provides economic aid to rebuild Europe– North Atlantic Treaty Organization established, Apr 1949

• Nemesis, Warsaw Pact, May 1955

– Russia would not allow nations occupied at end of war to determine their own form of government

• East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Rumania, Yugoslavia, Albania, North Korea, Northern China

• Chinese civil war, French Indochina– U.S. military aid to Turkey, Greece– Marshall Plan provides economic aid to rebuild Europe– North Atlantic Treaty Organization established, Apr 1949

• Nemesis, Warsaw Pact, May 1955

• Force Reduction – The end of World War II began a new

age for the United States and the military

– Army reduced from 8M to 2M– Navy from 4M to 1.6M– Air Force from 2.3M to 300K, 72K to 10K

– About 2M by 1950

– National Security Act of 1947• Department of Defense• Civilian service secretaries, Chief of Staff• Joint Chiefs of Staff• Separate Air Force

• Force Reduction – The end of World War II began a new

age for the United States and the military

– Army reduced from 8M to 2M– Navy from 4M to 1.6M– Air Force from 2.3M to 300K, 72K to 10K

– About 2M by 1950

– National Security Act of 1947• Department of Defense• Civilian service secretaries, Chief of Staff• Joint Chiefs of Staff• Separate Air Force

Military Developments Military Developments

Military Developments Military Developments • Reorganization

– Strategic Air Command•Nuclear deterrence•Obsolete aircraft and few atomic bombs

•B-29, B-50, B-36 –10,000 lbs, 10,000 miles

• Reorganization – Strategic Air Command

•Nuclear deterrence•Obsolete aircraft and few atomic bombs

•B-29, B-50, B-36 –10,000 lbs, 10,000 miles

Military Developments Military Developments – Tactical Air Command

•P-80, B-45, F-84– Air Defense Command

•Approved plan for major aircraft control and warning network (unfunded until 1949)

• Budget constraints

– Tactical Air Command•P-80, B-45, F-84

– Air Defense Command•Approved plan for major aircraft control and warning network (unfunded until 1949)

• Budget constraints

The Berlin Airlift The Berlin Airlift • Causes

– Soviet Union wanted buffer zone to prevent future attacks from west

– June 1948, blockade of Berlin• Participants

– U.S.– England– France– Soviet Union

• Causes– Soviet Union wanted buffer zone to

prevent future attacks from west– June 1948, blockade of Berlin

• Participants– U.S.– England– France– Soviet Union

The Berlin Airlift The Berlin Airlift • Role of Air Power

– The airlift began using 110 outdated C-47 aircraft or “Gooney Birds,” 2-3 tons

– 3 air corridors, 20 miles wide– C-54, 10 tons each, 200 by October– May 4, 1949, Berlin airlift came to end

•1.75M tons

• Role of Air Power – The airlift began using 110 outdated C-

47 aircraft or “Gooney Birds,” 2-3 tons– 3 air corridors, 20 miles wide– C-54, 10 tons each, 200 by October– May 4, 1949, Berlin airlift came to end

•1.75M tons

Lessons Learned Lessons Learned • Importance of Airpower

– Transport Aircraft•More experience because of Berlin airlift in

year than in 10 years•C-74, 24 tons, 14 total

• Importance of Airpower– Transport Aircraft

•More experience because of Berlin airlift in year than in 10 years

•C-74, 24 tons, 14 total

Aviation Research and Development

Aviation Research and Development

• Research Centers– Speed of sound; vibrations, control reversal, aircraft

destruction– Laboratory experiments then test aircraft

• Research Aircraft – X-1, 670 mph, 42,000 ft, increased until 1956

air launched from B-29 at 23,000 ft 700, 43,000 ft (Oct 1947)

– X-2, 2,094 mph, but disintegrated in flight– X-3, inadequate engine power– X-5, variable angle wings

– Speed of Sound?

• Research Centers– Speed of sound; vibrations, control reversal, aircraft

destruction– Laboratory experiments then test aircraft

• Research Aircraft – X-1, 670 mph, 42,000 ft, increased until 1956

air launched from B-29 at 23,000 ft 700, 43,000 ft (Oct 1947)

– X-2, 2,094 mph, but disintegrated in flight– X-3, inadequate engine power– X-5, variable angle wings

– Speed of Sound?

Aviation Research and Development

Aviation Research and Development

• Research Centers– Speed of sound; vibrations, control reversal, aircraft

destruction– Laboratory experiments then test aircraft

• Research Aircraft – X-1, 670 mph, 42,000 ft, increased until 1956– X-2, 2,094 mph, but disintegrated in flight– X-3, inadequate engine power– X-5, variable angle wings

– Speed of Sound?

770 mph at 70 degrees700 mph at -20 degreesLess at colder temperatures

• Research Centers– Speed of sound; vibrations, control reversal, aircraft

destruction– Laboratory experiments then test aircraft

• Research Aircraft – X-1, 670 mph, 42,000 ft, increased until 1956– X-2, 2,094 mph, but disintegrated in flight– X-3, inadequate engine power– X-5, variable angle wings

– Speed of Sound?

770 mph at 70 degrees700 mph at -20 degreesLess at colder temperatures

Aviation Research and Development

Aviation Research and Development

• Medical Research – How much can human body stand?– G-suits prevent blood from pooling in legs, partial

then full pressure suits– Ejection seats

• Medical Research – How much can human body stand?– G-suits prevent blood from pooling in legs, partial

then full pressure suits– Ejection seats

• Political Developments• Military Developments • The Berlin Airlift • Lessons Learned • Aviation Research and

Development

• Political Developments• Military Developments • The Berlin Airlift • Lessons Learned • Aviation Research and

Development

ConclusionConclusion